herdman



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F.. E. HERDMAN.

, ELEVATOR.

No. 510,913. Patented Dec. 19, 1893.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. HERDMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,913, dated December 19, 1893.

Application filed November'ZZ, 1892- Serial No. 452,782. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. HERDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, county of Marion, :and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elevators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a modified form of rod U. Fig. 3 is a detail of elevator clutches. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. Fig; 5 is a view of the shifting weight and its connections showing also the operation of the valves b and h. Fig. 6 is aview of the springs V V and their supports. Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the butterfly valve used between the cylinder and controlling valve.

A is the elevating car operating in the shaft 13.

C is the traveling sheave connected to the plunger 0. I v

D is the cylinder having at its lower end the fixed sheave D.

E is the lifting cable which passes around the fixed sheaves E E and down and around a sheave D and up and around the sheave C, and so on the number of times required to give the desired gear to the machine, and is finally connected to the bell crank F.

G is the conduit leading from the cylinder D to the pressure tank H. At the side of the tank H or at any other convenient place is secured the cylinder M, the right end of which is connected with the pressure tank H, the other end being open. The piston rod m passes through both ends of the cylinder, the left end of said rod being connected with the end of the bell crank F other than that to which the lifting cable E is connected. The other end of the piston rod is attached to the arm m of the bell crank lever N pivoted at N. On the horizontal arm n of this bell crank which extends in both directions from the pivot point is placed a weight O. The weight 0 is upon the arm so that it can-travel from one end to the other of said arm. This -Weight 0 is attached to a bell crank Z'by means of the link .2, the other end of the bell crank Z surrounding the rod U, the end of the rod U being connected to the lever V of a valve W in the conduit G. Upon this rod arethe buttons 2' 2 To the cross head of the plunger is attached a rod T extending out and surrounding the rod U and upon this rod U are the stops U, U 7

H is the pressure reservoir connected with the pressure tank H by the pipe h. Upon this pipe is the valve 7?. and upon the outlet pipe W, from the tank His the valve k The weight 0 is attached to an arm the ends of which are connected to the linksP and Q, the link P connecting the lever of the valve h, and the link Q connecting the lever of the valve If. The relation of the arms of the bell crank F to each other is such, that with the maximum load in the car the strain due to this load against the pressure in cylinder M would be balanced by the maximum pressure in the pressure tank H when the weight 0 is in the central position.

Fig. 1 shows the mechanism in position for the car to ascend. When the car is ascending the bell crank Z is in position shown in Fig. 1, and when the car reaches the top the arm T strikes the button U lifting rod U and closing the valve V The raising of rod U causes the button Z to strike and raise the bell crank Z and the weightO ismoved to the left, when the mechanism is in position for the descent of the elevator car. When the car reaches the bottom the arm T strikes the button U pushing down rod U and closing valve V While the rod U is moving down the button .2 is caused to strike the arm of the bell crank Z and throw the weight 0 to the right, when the mechanism is in position for the car to ascend. In ascending, as the projection T moves upward the spring is free to bring valve to the center and move the rod U- up'ward,-thus bringing the .button 2 in position to control the bell crank Z, when the arm strikes the upper button II. In ascending, the weight is thrown to the right of the bell crank. When in this position it places an additional force to hold the piston of the cylinder M to the right; consequently the pressure from the bell crank F to the loadin the car, this difierence in pressure being suliicient to operate the elevator and give its desired speed. If this additional pressure is not suflicient to counterbalance the piston M then the weight 0 drops and draws the piston to the right. In dropping, the weight, 0, by means of the link P opens the valve h admitting air from the reservoir H to the tank H. \Vhile this occurs the valve it remains in the same position in consequence of the connection between link Q and the weight 0 being at the point on which the bell crank N swings. Compressed air continues to be admitted into the tank H until the pressure in the tank II is sufficient to overcome the pressure on the opposite side of the piston in cylinder M, due to the weight of the car and the weight 0. lVhen the pressure in the tank has reached this point then the piston travels to the left and raises the weight 0, at the same time closing the valve h. The car continues to travel in this direction, and if, during its travel the pressure in the tank II at any time falls below the required amount the weight 0 again drops and admits additional pressure from the reservoir H. In this way the pressure in the tank H is maintained sufficiently to raise the load in the car, and by this means only sufficient power is consumed to overcome the load in the car and operate the elevator; for, if the load is light then the strain on the bell crank through the cable is correspondingly light, and the pressure in the tank to overcome this may also be correspondingly less. As before described, at this period when the elevator has reached its maximum elevation, the weight 0 is thrown to the left of the bell crank N, and being in this position it tends to force the piston in the cylinder M to the left and consequently aids the pressure in the tank H in doing this, the load acting against these two forces. If the pressure in the tank is sufficient to carry the piston to the left, then the weight 0 drops, and by means of link P and link Qopens the valve 7?, thereby allowing the air from the tank H to be discharged, and in consequence reducing the pressure in this tank. The point at which the link P is attached to the weight being over the point at which the bell crank is pivoted, it does not move the valve h. The air continues to discharge from the tank H until the pressure is reduced to such an amount that the load in the car through the bell crank F is sufficient to overcome this pressure and the weight, and force the piston in the cylinder M to the right, and in doing so it closes this valve. In consequence, the

pressure in the tank H is reduced sufliciently to allow the car to descend and the contents of the cylinder D to be discharged into this tank. By the arrangement described I am enabled to operate the elevator consuming power proportionate to the load. That 1s, if it requires ten pounds pressure over and above what is actually required for the load to overcome the friction and give the necessary speed to the car, then the weight 0 is adjusted by the means described, and the pressure in the tank II is maintained at this additional amount, thereby raising the load in the manner desired and at the same time consuming no unnecessary power in doing so; also In descending, it the same amount of additional power is necessary in the car to bring the car down, this weight 0 by being thrown in the right direction reduces the pressure in the tank H to that amount and in consequence, when descending with the full load, instead of allowing that much power to be wasted, the difierence above that necessary to bring down the load is stored in the tank and by the additional mechanism hereinbefore described, when the car once starts to ascend the operator cannot reverse it nor can he reverse it when it starts to descend. Instead of a rod U as shown, it is evident that a chain or cord may be used provided with projections, the lower wheel X over which said chain or cord passes being connected with the arm of valve V, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to control the car, beneath the car are attached heavy friction clutches, shown in Fig. 3, one of these clutches beingon each side of thecar and surrounding the guide 3. These clutches consist of heavy plates 1, 1, which are hinged together at 2 and which surround the guide 3 and are held in close contact with said guides by springs 4. At the rear end of each clutch and to one of the plates is attached a bell crank lever 5, one plate being connected directly to the bell crank, the other plate being connected by the link 5, so that by lowering the horizontal arm of the bell crank the springs4are compressed and the jaws loosened from the guide 3. The bell crank 5 is connected by a link 25 with the crank 26 on the shaft 6, and to a crank of this same shaft is attached the lever 7 in the car, so that when the operator moves the lever 7 he can release the clutch from the guides,and, by releasing the lever,the clutches again come into action upon the guides, so that when the elevator is in position to ascend, and the operator desires to ascend, he presses down this lever 7, compressing the springs at and releasing the clutches from the guides 3, when the pressure from the tank L, as before described, carries the car upward. Vhen the operator desires to stop he releases the lever 7 and the springs 4 cause the clutches to grip the guides and stop the car. The operator can by this mechanism, regulate the speed of the car, by allowing the clutches to partially grip the guides. In descending the lever is operated in the same manner as in ascending. The mechanism hereinbeforedescribed would not enable the elevator to be reversed 'except at the end of its travel, and if it is desired to arrange the mechanism so that the car can be reversed at intermediate points of its travel, I place in the car the treadles 8, 8. These treadles are connected to each end of a lever 29 at the bottom of the car. At the bottom of the shaft is placed the bell crank 9 one end being connected to the link 0'. To each upper end of this bell crank are attached sheaves 10, 10, and cables fastened to the top of the car pass over the sheaves 11, 11, down to the bottom of the shaft, around the sheaves 10, 10, and up to and connecting with the end of the lever 29 attached to the treadles 8, 8. By operating one of thesetreads the weight 0 can be thrown to one end of the'bell crank, and by opening in the other direction can be thrown the other way, so as to allow the pressure from the source of pressure supply to enter the tank, or to relieve the pressure from the tank.

In an application filed by me on the day of the filing of this application, Serial No. 452,783, I have illustrated and described, in a hydraulic elevator, a pressure tank, an outlet and a Valve thereupon, an inlet from the source of supply and a valve thereupon, a cylinder opening into the pressure tank and having a piston working therein connected with a bell crank in the tank which has a slidable weight upon it, the other end of the piston being connected with another bell crank which in turn is cohnected with the lifting cables, and a connection between the sliding weight and the valves above-mentioned, which in construction and operation are substantially similar to what I show and describe herein. I claim therein specifically in combination the details just enumerated, and also claim broadly such of those parts as I consider essential to my invention. I do not herein claim as new what is therein claimed, but

What I do claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-' 1. In an elevating apparatus the combination of lifting cables, an operating cylinder, a pressure tank,aonnection between the pressure tank and operating cylinder, a cylinder opening into said pressure tank, a piston in said cylinder, one end of said piston connected to the lifting cables, a movable weight connected to the other end of said piston, an inlet from the source of pressure supply to the pressure tank, a valve on said inlet connection between said weight and said valve, an elevator car, clutch mechanism connected to said car and mechanism in said car connected to said clutch mechanism for operating the same. I

2. In an elevating apparatus the combination of lifting cables, an operating cylinder, a pressure tank, connection between the pressure tank and operating cylinder,a cylinder opening into said pressure tank, a piston in said cylinder, one end of said piston connected to the lifting cables,amovable weight connected to the other end of said piston, an outlet from said pressure tank, a valve on said outlet, connection between said-weight and said valve, an elevator car, clutch mechanism connected to said car and mechanism in said car connected to said clutchmechanism for operating the same.

, 3. In an elevating apparatus the combination of lifting cables, an operating cylinder,a

pressure tank, connection between the pressure tank and operating cylinder, a cylinder opening into said pressure tank, a piston 1n said cylinder, one end of said piston connected to the lifting cables, a movable weight connected to the other end of said piston, an inlet from the source of pressure supply to the pressure tank, a valve on said inlet, an outlet from said tank, a valve upon said outlet connection between said weight and said valves, an elevator car, clutch mechanism connected to said car and mechanism 1n said car connected to said clutch mechanism for operating the same.

4. In an elevating apparatus, the combination of lifting cables, an operating cylinder, a pressure tank, connection between the pressure tank and operating cylinder, a cylinder opening into said pressure tank, a'piston 1n said cylinder,on e end of said piston connected to the lifting cables, a movable weight connected to the other end of said piston, an inlet from the sonrceof pressure supply to the pressure tank, a valve on said inlet, connection between said weight and said valve, an

elevator car, a tread in said car, a lever to Y which said tread is connected, cables connected to said lever, a bell crank, to the end of one member of which said cable is connected,

a link to which the other member of said bell crank is connected, said link being connected to said weight. Y v

5. In an elevating apparatus, the combination of lifting cables, an operating cylinder,a pressure tank, connection between the pressure tank and the operating cylinder, a cylinder opening into said pressure tank, a piston in said cylinder, one end of said piston connected to the lifting cables,-a movable weight connected to the other end of said piston, an outlet from said pressure tank, a valve on said outlet, connection between said weight and saidivalve, an elevator car, a tread in said car, a lever to which said tread is connected, cables connected to said lever and a bell crank to the end of one member of which said cable is connected, a link to which the other member of said bell crank is connected, said link being connected to said weight.

6. In'an elevating apparatus, the combina tion of lifting cables, an operating cylinder, a pressure tank, connection between the pressure tank and operating cylinder, a cylinder opening into said pressure tank, apiston in said cylinder, one end of said piston connected to the lifting cables, a movable weight conlet from the source of pressure supply to the said bell crank is connected, said link being to pressure tank, a valve on said inlet, an outlet connected to said weight.

from said tank, a valve upon said outlet, con- In testimony of which invention I have nection between said weight and said valves, hereunto set my hand.

an elevator car, a tread in said car, a. lever to R HERDMAN which said tread is connected, cables connected to said lever and a bell crank to the ends \Vitncsses: of one member of which said cable is con- 7. V. MARTIN, nected, a link to which the other member of B. KERR. 

